When people talk about Scientology they often cite some of the more unusual beliefs that are said to be held by its followers, such as the belief that the universe was created by beings or forces called Thetans, who are reincarnated over and over. However, if you write down the beliefs of any religion they would all sound equally strange, so it isn't the nature of Scientologist's beliefs that makes the movement controversial.

The main problems with Scientology are to do with secrecy and control. There is a very big diference between what you will be told if you, for example, talk to the Scientologists who sometimes go out on the streets to ask passers-by to 'complete a questionnaire' and the stories told by people who have left the cult - bigger than in any other religious movement. Another persistent problem is that people who join do very frequently end up shunning their old friends and family, and people at the lower end of the hierarchy tend to find themselves being asked to work extremely hard for little reward. Also, the techniques used such as 'auditing' are regarded as very intrusive.